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Canada has a four-season climate, and our winters can get really cold. Suppose you’re building a new home, buying a resale property, or you’re interested in renovating your current home. In that case, the right windows will increase the comfort level and energy efficiency of any home.
Cold weather windows can handle any season in Canada. As a result, you will be more comfortable in your home, and you’ll save on energy bills. Here are the best type of windows for cold weather or any weather that our climate delivers!
Why Cold Weather Windows Are the Best
If your home’s windows can’t withstand a Canadian climate, your home will not maintain heat properly or keep freezing cold air outside.
It strains your furnace or HVAC system, and it’s harder to keep the temperature comfortable inside. Typically, it also means you pay more to heat your house.
Energy Efficiency in a Colder Climate
Windows with a high energy efficiency rating increase the comfort level in any home, and homeowners can also save on energy bills every month.
Falcon Windows and Doors understands this, and we endorse Energy Star standards for energy-efficient windows. We explain all about Energy Star standards on our website, Falcon WD windows and doors installation GTA. Check us out for more information!
The Importance of Window Frames in Cold Climates
Did you know that frames are an essential part of window design, and aluminum window frames aren’t suitable for a cold climate?
Aluminum window frames aren’t reliable because they transfer heat rapidly. A home with aluminum window frames loses heat quicker and makes the furnace or HVAC system work too hard. Higher heating costs are practically guaranteed.
Here are the best types of cold weather window frames:
Wood or Wood-Clad Frames
Natural wood doesn’t transfer heat, making wood frames relatively energy efficient. But take into account, wood is notorious for expanding when temperatures fluctuate or humidity increases. Wood can also rot when it gets exposed to high moisture levels.
Vinyl Window Frames
Vinyl window frames have built-in insulation to hold heat. Vinyl is a reliable material and well-equipped to handle nastiness like snow, freezing rain, and ice. Vinyl is not susceptible to cracking or warping as outside temperatures fluctuate.
Fiberglass Window Frames
Fiberglass window frames are similar to vinyl in many good ways, such as insulation and handling temperature and humidity changes. But fiberglass costs more—a bit more or a lot more depending on the window frame company and the quality of their fiberglass.
What Window Glass Is Best in Cold Climates
The best type of windows for cold weather means the right frame material and the right kind of window glass and glazing. Here’s a rundown of the different types of window glass and glazing:
Multiple Panes of Glass
There are windows with single panes of glass, but they aren’t energy efficient in a cold Canadian climate. Multiple panes of glass (two or three panes) provide far better insulation, and they’re also known as double-glazed or triple-glazed windows.
How do multiple panes work? Well, a spacer system design in double-glazed or triple-glazed windows keeps condensation from building up in between the panes of glass. The multiple panes form a kind of vacuum seal that maximizes insulation while reducing energy loss.
Some multiple panes of glass offer even more insulation when inert gases like xenon, krypton, or argon get injected between the panes to form an invisible, energy-efficient barrier.
Low-E Glass
“E” stands for “emissivity,” and that’s all good! It’s a metallic oxide coating on the outer side of window glass that reflects heat and prevents heat from transferring between inside (warm) and outside (cold) environments.
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)
SHGC rates how much heat from the sun passes through window glass. In a cold Canadian climate, a good SHGC rating for window glass has a value of 0.55.
U Value
A U value is the total heat transfer rate, and the lower the U value rating in window glass, the better. For cold Canadian winters, a good U value should be 0.33 or less.
Visible Transmission (VT)
Pros recommend a higher VT value in colder climates that allow daylight to pass through the window glass. It helps to maintain a more comfortable temperature indoors, while insulation in the windows reduces cold draftiness.
See the Pros About the Best Type of Windows for Cold Weather
In a colder climate, your home’s windows work best when combining energy efficiency with tough, cost-effective materials.
And when it comes to the right windows, the right installer is just as important.
The best decision you can make in cold weather windows is to deal with a professional company with a proven track record of quality installations and satisfied customers. Falcon WD makes sure you get the right windows for your home!
